Machine for pointing and drying tampons



Plil 13, 1937- c. A. FoURNEss Er Al. 2,077,231

MACHINE FOR POINTING AND DRYING TAMPONS 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 16,

April 13, 1937- c. A. FouRNEss ET AL 2,077,231

MACHINE FOR POINTING AND DRYING TAMPONS Filed Oct. 16, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 13, 1937. c. A. FoURNEss ET AL MACHINE FOR POINTING AND DRYING TAMPON-S Filed om. 16, 1935 s sheets-sheet :s

IIHII ,B5 @Mobi Mfg, CSW-r Patented Api'. 13, 1937 UNITED VSTATES MACHINE FOR POINTING AND DRYING TAMP ONS 'v Charles A. Fourness, Appleton, and John M.

Graef, Neenah, Wis.,

aSSlgl'IDlS, by meSIle 31S- signments, to International Cellucotton Products Company, Chicago, -Ill., a corporation ofv Delaware Application October 16, 1935, Serial No. 45,365

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for completing the final operation in the manufacture of tampons from creped absorbent wadding or like material. In a method of manufacturing such tampons which we have designed and successfully put in practice, a sheet of sixteen-ply creped absorbent wadding is first repeatedly folded or crimped on itself into a substantially round or cylindrical form, and then run through a wide mesh braiding machine which compacts and holds together the numerous folds and pro- ,duces a substantially round uniform article of about ve-eighths inch diameter known as the tampon cord. This cord is then run through a cord coating machine which first applies a concentrated starch solution to the surface oi the cord, then wraps a thin sheet or strip of cotton wadding on this cord, then applies a diluted starch solution as an impregnation and thin second coating to the covering sheet or strip, and

finally compacts and reduces the cord and winds it on a polygonal reel. The reel with the cord thereon'is then placed in a drying oven in which it is subjected to a flow of heated air suiiiciently long to thoroughly dry the cord. The cord is then cut in tampon lengths, and, by means of a -stitching machine,y the closed end of a cord loop is drawn through and then looped around the tampon about one-half inch` from the outer or rear end thereof and the two free ends of the ',loop are knotted together. Finally, the inner or forward end of the tampon is moistened to render it pliable and then compressed in a die and dried to give it a comparatively rigid blunt 'pointed conical end form.

` Our present invention relates to a machine for performing the last-named operation, that is, the shaping and drying of the inner or forward 5 end of the tampon, and a practical form of such 0. machine is illustrated in the accompanying v`drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine, partly vbroken away and in vertical section.

Fig. 2 is an axial vertical section taken on the 45 line Of Fig. 1. n

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, partly broken away and in horizontal section on the offset line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view in vertical '50` section of one of the shaping dies and the device for pressing the tampon blank endwise therein.

` Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the tampon blank before it is inserted in the die. l

l Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the finished 55`tampon.

In the drawings, I0 designates a hollow pedestal on which the operating parts of the machine are mounted and supported. Tightly tted in the upper end of the pedestal I0 is an upright hollow casting ll, and within the latter is tightly fitted the lower portion of a sleeve I2, the upper portion lof which serves as a bearing for the hub I3 of a rotatable shell Ill. The hub I3 is stepped on a bearing ring I5 and revolves on a bushing I6 that encircles the upper portion of the sleeve I2. The ring I5 and bushing I6 are preferably made of a iibrous material quite extensively used for bearings and known as Micarta. Tightlytted'on kthe upper end of the sleeve I2 within the shell I4 is the depending hub Il of a round table I8 that, in turn, forms a support for a spider consisting of `a base plate I9, inner and outer concentric rings 28 and 2l, and radial spokes 22 (Fig. 3) between the inner and outer rings. On the top edges of the spokes 22 are seated a pair of inner and outer electric heating rings 23 and 2li of a known make, the rings being positioned by suitably located upstanding pins 25 on the top edges'of the spokes. 'Ihe upper edge portion of the shell I4 is formed with a ring of holes 26, in each of which is tightly fitted a die member 2l. This die member 2l, as best shown in the enlarged View Fig. 4, is formed with an axial cavity, the major portion 28 of which is cylindrical and of adiameter to receive the tampon blank B (Fig. 5). This cylindrical portion merges into an inwardly `tapered portion 29, and beyond the latter is a reduced cylindrical portion 30 extending to the inner face of the die. Associated with each of these diesis a device for lightly pressing the tampon blank inwardly into the die. A simple and convenient device for this purpose consists of a trigger 3| that is pivoted at 32 on and between the arms of a forked bracket 33 that is screwed into the wall of the shell I4 just below the die 2l. The trigger 3I is formed with a finger piece or handle 34 and on its upper end with a fiat l, tampon-engaging nose 35. In the lower forked end of the trigger 3l is pivoted a roller 36 that cooperates with the head V3l of a spring pressedV pusher, the tubular stem or shank 38 of which is slidably mounted on a fixed stud 39 secured in the base of the bracket 33, a cross pin 40 in the stem 38 extending through a slot 4I inthe stud 39 constituting a movement-limiting device for the pusher under the thrust of a coil compression spring 42 that encircles the stem 38. The pivotal axis of the roller 36 is so related to the pivot 32 of the trigger that it creates a past center movement whereby the trigger is yieldably held by the pusher in its working position and drops by gravity and the thrust of the pusher to idle posi# tion as shown by full and dotted lines respectively in Fig. 4.

The shell I4 is closed at the top by a cover 43, in the center of which is mounted a vertical flue 44 equipped with a draft-regulating damper 45. `.The cover is equipped with a pair of handles 43' for convenience in applying and removing the same..

Means are provided for creating a flow o-f. air

through the chamber formed by the shell I4and1 its cover 43. As herein shown, this means com-r prises a blower 46 mounted on a` bracket 41 that is attached to one side of the hollow casting f I, the blower 46 being driven by an electric motor 48.

The outer end of the discharge pipe 49 of thel blower is tted to a hole in the wall of the casting II in register with a holev 50 in the wallpf. the sleeve I2, so that the air discharged by the blower passes upwardly through the sleeve I2 and thence through registeringholes 5I and` 52 in the members I2 and I1 into the chamber of the shell I4.

1This air is heated within the chamber by the heating rings 23 and 24 and flows upwardly out of the chamber through the flue 44 at a speed regulated by the position of the damper 45.

The shell I4 is given a slow rotation, about one revolution per minute, by a simple drive mechanism comprising an electric motor 53 mounted on the bracket 41, the shaft 54 of which, through a speed reducer 55 mounted on abracket 56 drives a vertical shaft 51 equipped on its upper end with -pin-ion 58 meshing with and driving a large spur gear 59, preferably of Micarta, on the lower end of the shell I4, the gear ring 59 being surrounded by a guard 60.

Y Attached to a segmental flange 6I depending from the table I8 (Fig. 1) is a stationary segmental guard 62 that lies directly in front of the operators seat, the purpose of which is to prevent any substantial escape of the heated air through the dies as a fully pointed and dried tampon is withdrawn and a fresh blank inserted in each die. l

It will be observed that the outer projecting end portions of the dies 21 are threaded. These Ithreads form, in effect, cooling rings or ns which 'l reduce the heat at the outer ends of the dies` and prevent the tampons from being scorched. The

linner' end portions of the dies, into which the moistened ends* ofthetampons are pressed, have a -larger area of metal; hence moreY heat can be stored where it is most needed. To prepare the machine for operation it is nec -essary to have the dies thoroughly heated, and by closing the damper 45 the heat is turned on and,

lwith the blower started up, the heat is forced through the die openings, and within a few minutes the machine is ready for operation. Within easy reach of the operator at the loading and unloading station, a piece of wadding soaked with distilled water serves as a means to moisten'the 'tip of the tampon by pressing lthesarne lightly against the wadding. The motor 53V having been started up, the` shell rotates slowly, about one revolution per minute and the operator successively moistens and inserts the tampon blanks VintoV the several dies until they are all loaded.

vso that the operation of loading and unloading the machine is continuous. In withdrawing each tampon the operator merely depresses the trigger 3I, withdraws the tampon and inserts a fresh blank, and then raises the trigger; the entire operation requiring only from one to two seconds at the hands of an expert operator.

We have herein shown and described one specic embodiment of a machine that has been found in practice to successfully point and dry the tampon blanks, but manifestly the structural details may be varied within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I. In a machine for pointing tampons, the combination of a circular die carrier pivoted to turn on a vertical axis, a ring of closely spaced dies mounted horizontally in the circumference of said die carrier, each of said dies having a cavity of circular cross section with a tapered narrowed inner end portion shaped to form a blunt conical end on a tampon blank, a pivoted spring-actuated trigger having a past center movement for pressing the blank endwise into the die, and means for eiecting a slow continuous. rotation of said carrier past a loading and unloading station.

2. In a machine for pointing and drying tampons, the combination oiv a hollow rotary die carr, `rler, a group of dies mounted in the circumferential wall of said carrier, each of said dies having a cavity icommunicating with the chamber of said carrier and shaped to form a blunt conical end on a tampon blank, means associated with each die for pressing a moistened blank intothe die, means for forcing air through said chamber, and means for heating said air.

3. In a machine for pointing and drying tamp ons, the combination of a hollow rotary die carner, a group of dies mounted in the circumferential wall of said carrier, each of said dies having a v'die carrier, a ring of dies mounted inthe circumferentialwall ofsaid carrier, said dies having tampon-pointing cavities extending therethrough `and open at their inner ends to the chamber of said carrier, means associated with each .die for pressing a tampon blank therein, means; for

flooding said chamber withheated. air, means for rotating saidcarrier past a loading and unloading station, and means operative to. check escape of air through said dies during the loading and unloading operations.

5. In a machine for .pointing and drying tampons, the combination of a hollow rotatable die carrier, a ring of dies mounted in the circumy ferential wall of said carrier,'said dies having tampon-pointing cavities extending therethrough and open at their inner ends vto the chamber of said carrier, meansassociated with each die for pressing a tampon blank therein, means for flooding said chamber with heated air, means for rotating said carrier pasta loading and unloading station, and a stationary guard plate in said 'chamber serving to substantially close the inner ends of said dies against escape of' air there-4 'through as they pass thev loading and unloading station.

6. In a machine for pointing and drying tampons, the combination of a hollow rotaryrdie75 carrier, a group of tampon-pointing dies mounted in the circumferential wall of said carrier, means associated with each die for pressing a tampon blank therein, means for ooding the chamber 5 of said carrier with heated air, and means for regulating the outflow of heated air from said chamber.

7. In a machine for pointing and drying tampons, the combination of a hollow rotary die 10 carrier, a group of tampon-pointing dies mounted in the circumferential wall of said carrier, means associated with each die for pressing a tampon blank therein, means for flooding the chamber of said carrier with heated air, a dis- 15 charge iiue for heated air communicating with said chamber, and a damper in said ue.

8. In a machine for pointing and drying tampons, the combination of a hollow die carrier mounted to rotate on a Vertical axis, a ring of 20 tampon-pointing dies mounted in the circumferential wall of said carrier, means associated with each die for pressing a tampon blank therein,

an air inflow pipe communicating with the chamber of said carrier through the bottom wall thereof, a blower communicating with said inflow pipe, an air heating element in said chamber, a discharge pipe for heated air communicating with said chamber through the top wall thereof, and a damper in said discharge pipe.

9. In a machine for pointing tampons,v .the combination of a circular die carrier pivoted to turn on a vertical axis and having a ring of horizontal closely yspaced holes in its circumferential Wall, stationary' removable dies tightly fitting said holes, each of said dies having an axial cylindrical cavity with a tapered narrowed inner end portion shaped to form a blunt conical end on a tampon blank, manually controlled spring-actuatedk means associated with each' die for pressing the blank endwise into the die, and means for effecting a slow rotation of said carrier past a loading and unloading station.

CHARLES A. FOURNESS.

JOHN M. GRAEF. 

